Ewing Sarcoma

General Information About Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors

  • Ewing sarcoma family of tumors is a group of cancers of the bone and of soft tissue.
  • Possible signs of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors include swelling and pain near the tumor.
  • Tests that examine the bone and soft tissue are used to diagnose and stage Ewing sarcoma family of tumors.
  • A biopsy is done to diagnose Ewing sarcoma family of tumors.
  • Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Stages of Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors
  • The results of diagnostic and staging tests are used to find out if cancer cells have spread.
  • Ewing sarcoma family of tumors are grouped based on whether the cancer has spread from the bone or soft tissue in which the cancer began.
    – Localized Ewing sarcoma family of tumors
    – Metastatic Ewing sarcoma family of tumors
  • There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
Recurrent Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors

Recurrent Ewing sarcoma family of tumors is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the tissues where it first started or in another part of the body.

Treatment Option Overview
  • There are different types of treatment for children with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors.
  • Children with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors should have their treatment planned by a team of health care providers who are experts in treating cancer in children.
  • Some cancer treatments cause side effects months or years after treatment has ended.
  • Three types of standard treatment are used:
    – Chemotherapy
    – Surgery
    – Radiation therapy
  • New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
    – Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
  • Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
  • Patients can enter clinical trials before, during. or after starting their cancer treatment.
  • Follow-up tests may be needed.
Treatment Options for Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors
For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Localized

  • Combination chemotherapy followed by surgery and/or radiation therapy.
  • A clinical trial of new ways of giving combination chemotherapy.

Metastatic

  • Combination chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy to the area where the tumor first formed and the places where the tumor has spread.
  • A clinical trial of chemotherapy with either stem cell transplant or radiation therapy, for tumors that have spread to the lungs.

Recurrent

  • Surgery followed by combination chemotherapy.
  • Combination chemotherapy.
  • High dose chemotherapy and sometimes a stem cell transplant using the patient’s stem cells.
  • Radiation therapy or surgery to remove bone tumors, as palliative therapy to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life.
  • Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove tumors that have spread to the lungs.
  • A clinical trial of new combinations of drugs.